Bob Brookover

COLUMNIST

Sports columnist Bob Brookover joined the Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after long stints in the same role with the Camden Courier-Post and the Delaware County Daily Times. He also served as the National League columnist for ESPN. He made the move from rawhide to pigskin in 2003 and covered the Eagles for seven years before returning to his roots as the Inquirer's baseball columnist in 2010. He became a general sports columnist in 2013 and loves covering a variety of sports and events.

"That's unequivocally a false statement," Amaro said. "That did not come from me and I would not express that."

Amaro would not comment on whether he has made a contract proposal to Werth's agent Scott Boras, but he did say the Phillies hope to have a relatively fast resolution on whether the free agent right fielder will return to the team.

"I don't think it's something we're going to let go on for a while," Amaro said. "Hopefully we'll find out if he's a viable option to bring back in a short period of time. Regardless of what happens with Jayson, there are things we need to do."

Amaro said one of the things at the top of the team's agenda is strengthening the bullpen.

"I think there is some help out there for us and we think we can improve our bullpen," Amaro said. "We'd like to think we can do something from the left side, but there aren't that many guys out there."

Minnesota's Brian Fuentes and Hisanori Takahashi and Pedro Feliciano of the New York Mets are among the left-handed free-agent relievers available.